October 17, 2012 Council Meeting Minutes

This regular meeting of the Connellsville City Council was held this evening at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 110 North Arch Street, Connellsville, PA. Attending this meeting was Mayor Matthews, Council members Karpiak, Weaver, Geyer and Ritch. Also attending this meeting was City Clerk Tesauro and Solicitor Witt.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE:

Invocation was given by Reverend Matt Goldberry

VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Linda Shearer, CAHS Patriots – “Wreaths Across America” Program – wreaths to be placed in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies on December 15, 2012. Veterans Program at the Armory will be held on November 12, 2012 at 1 PM. Christmas packages to veterans will be sent out on December 19, 2012.

Dan Cocks – Questioned if Council had drafted an ordinance on empty buildings. Cocks discussed Amtrak station signs and the City’s budget. He questioned if the budget would be on the City’s website.

Johanna Harden – Questioned Executive Sessions and open meetings.

Geno Gallo – Discussed “Tangled up in Brew” event. He announced they are donating $200 to the Recreation Board. He announced on October 25th at 9 AM at City Hall will be Sustainable Connellsville and West Penn Power Sustainability Fund Breakfast which will highlight funding opportunities for local businesses and organizations.

CORRESPONDENCE:

REGULAR AGENDA:

Resolution No. 10-1-2012:

“To approve the minutes from the September 19, 2012 City Council Meeting.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-2-2012: “To waive the 4-day Resolution Rule to allow for items submitted after the 4-day rule to be read at the meeting tonight, such Resolutions will be marked with an asterisk.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

MAYOR MATTHEWS:

Police Department Report

Resolution No. 10-3-2012: "To appoint Judy Keller and Dave Petrone as trustees of the Carnegie Free Library Board, as representatives of the City, effective November 1, 2012, to fill the remainder of two vacant three-year terms, such that these appointments will complete the 2012 year and will remain in effect until December 31, 2015."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-4-2012: “To approve the Connellsville Area Senior Citizens Center Board of Directors request to amend their By-Laws to allow for a maximum of five Directors on the Board of Directors.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Geyer stated Council has been watching the budget closer and noticed revenues from Act 511 Taxes were not coming in. He noted they are watching to see that all businesses are paying their fair share. Geyer explained ongoing tax questions and where the City stands with taxes.

Resolution No. 10-5-2012: “To authorize and enter into an agreement with Berkheimer, for a term to end December 31, 2012, appointing Berkheimer as the City’s exclusive collector of delinquent per capita taxes for all prior tax years; such agreement to be renewed or extended as agreed by both parties and to cover such additional tax years as agreed by both parties.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-6-2012: “To confirm and ratify the appointment of Southwest Regional Tax Bureau as the exclusive collector of earned income taxes for the current tax year, beginning January 1, 2012; and to authorize and enter into an agreement with Southwest Regional Tax Bureau, for a term to end December 31, 2012, appointing Southwest Regional Tax Bureau as the City’s exclusive collector of current and delinquent business privileges taxes, current and delinquent local services taxes (occupational privilege taxes), and current and delinquent mercantile taxes for tax year 2012 and all prior tax years, such agreement to be renewed or extended as agreed by both parties and to cover such additional tax years as agreed by both parties.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-7-2012: “To pay all bills/expenditures for goods/services in excess of $500.00 as submitted: Widmer Engineering, Inc., $1,905.00, First Energy site review and stormwater plan review through August 20, 2012.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-8-2012: “To reimburse Jacinta Ptacek $135.98 for 2 hockey nets for the Recreation Department; monies to be taken from the Recreation Checking Account.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-9-2012: “To pay $296,084.00 into the Police and Fire Fighters Pension Plans in order to satisfy the 2012 Minimum Municipal Obligations (MMO). The amount includes the $160,924.94 General Municipal Pension System State Aid as received from the Pennsylvania Auditor General’s Office and $135,159.06 to be taken from General Fund Account. $227,567.00 to be deposited in the Police Pension Plan and $68,517.00 to be deposited in the Fire Fighters Pension Plan.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-10-2012: “To authorize the payment of $29,887.24 to the New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Department as required by Act 205; money from the Auditor General’s Office for the 2012 Commonwealth Allocation supporting the Volunteer Fire Relief Association.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Geyer reminded Council that Tuesday at 6 PM in the Budget Meeting.

KARPIAK:

Public Works Report
Leaf pick-up schedule

WEAVER:

Health Department Report
Fire Department Report
New Haven Hose Report

Fayette County Hard-to-Recycle Drop off event is scheduled Saturday, October 27th from 9 AM to 2 PM at Wharton Township Municipal Building, Route 381 in Farmington.

RITCH:

Community Center Report

CITY TREASURER REPORT:

CITY CONTROLLER REPORT:

Resolution No. 10-11-2012:

“To schedule an Executive Session at 6 PM on November 14, 2012 to discuss legal, personnel and contractual issues.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 10-12-2012: “That this meeting of City Council does hereby adjourn.”

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Geyer, Ritch, Weaver and Mayor Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.